CHICAGO (June 25, 2012)—The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is pleased to announce that Jeffrey M. Cole, DDS, MBA, FAGD, of Wilmington, Del., was installed as president of the association during the AGD 2012 Annual Meeting & Exhibits, held June 21 to 24 in Philadelphia.
“It is an exciting time in the field of dentistry and it’s an honor to lead the AGD’s 37,000 members,” says Dr. Cole. “Members can expect that the organization will continue to work tirelessly to advocate and protect the rights of general dentists, as well as work to ensure that the public receives the highest quality of oral care. The AGD will continue to make the public aware of the dangers that can result from receiving treatment from alternative oral health care providers; specifically, that these providers do not have the education necessary to make diagnoses or to perform irreversible surgical dental procedures.”
A member of the AGD since 1988, Dr. Cole has been actively involved on the Board of Trustees representing Region 5, which is composed of Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Before he was elected to the Board, Dr. Cole served on the AGD Dental Care and Dental Education Councils. He was elected treasurer of the AGD in 2006 and held that position for four years. On the constituent and regional levels, Dr. Cole served as treasurer of Region 5 before becoming regional director. He also served as a delegate to the AGD House of Delegates.
In 1993, he earned the AGD Fellowship Award, which required him to complete more than 500 hours of continuing dental education, pass a comprehensive exam, and maintain membership in the AGD for three consecutive years.
Dr. Cole received his bachelor’s degree from Villanova University in 1982 and his doctorate of dental surgery (DDS) from Georgetown University School of Dentistry in 1986. He went on to earn a Master of Business Administration degree from Temple University in 1996.
Dr. Cole is a past president of the Delaware State Dental Society and currently serves as a delegate to the American Dental Association on behalf of the society.
Dr. Cole and his wife, Linda, reside in Wilmington, Del., where he maintains a solo private practice.
About the Academy of General Dentistry
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is a professional association of more than 37,000 general dentists dedicated to providing quality dental care and oral health education to the public. AGD members stay up-to-date in their profession through a commitment to continuing education. Founded in 1952, the AGD is the second largest dental association in the United States, and it is the only association that exclusively represents the needs and interests of general dentists. A general dentist is the primary care provider for patients of all ages and is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management, and overall coordination of services related to patients’ oral health needs. For more information about the AGD, visit www.agd.org.
